Deadly Match: How a Tinder Date Became a Night of Murder

Introduction

On December 1st, 2018, 22-year-old British backpacker Grace Millane was living out her dream adventure in New Zealand. She was exploring a new country, meeting new friends, and embracing the freedom of solo travel. But as she left her hostel that evening to meet a man she’d matched with on Tinder, she had no idea she was walking into the arms of a killer. Within hours, Grace would vanish, sparking a desperate search and a criminal investigation that would reveal a chilling, calculated murder—and a predator hiding in plain sight.

This is the story of how a seemingly ordinary Tinder date turned into a nightmare, a police hunt across Auckland, and a courtroom battle over one of the most shocking defenses ever used in a murder case.

The Last Night

Grace Millane had just finished a backpacking journey from England to New Zealand. On the evening of December 1st, she left her hostel to meet Jesse Kempson, a 26-year-old New Zealander she’d matched with on Tinder. CCTV footage captured the pair at a bustling bar, chatting and drinking. From the outside, everything seemed perfect—two young people enjoying a night out in a safe, public place.

But beneath the surface, Grace’s date was already spiraling into darkness. Kempson had started drinking hours before, downing several beers alone before Grace arrived. He was seen leaving the bar with at least four empty bottles on his table. The two moved together from one bar to another, sharing drinks and conversation. At 8:54 p.m., they shared their first kiss at the Bluestone Room, a moment Grace messaged her friends about: “It’s going amazingly well. I just click with him.”

Tragically, this would be Grace’s very last message.

The Murder

After leaving the bar, Grace and Jesse headed to his hotel room. What happened next was pieced together through CCTV, forensic evidence, and Kempson’s own shifting stories. Sometime during the night, Kempson strangled Grace to death. The next morning, as friends sent birthday wishes to Grace’s phone, every message went unanswered.

Kempson’s actions after the murder were methodical and chilling. CCTV caught him leaving the hotel alone at 8 a.m., glancing suspiciously at the camera. Instead of panicking, he calmly began the process of covering up his crime. He went shopping for a large suitcase, checking its dimensions to ensure it could fit Grace’s body. He bought cleaning products to scrub his hotel room. He rented a car, ready to dispose of the evidence.

But Kempson wasn’t finished. As Grace’s body lay in his apartment, he went out on another Tinder date. Wearing the same clothes as the night before, he met a second woman—possibly planning to make her his next victim. During their date, he brought up disturbing topics, including how to hide a body from police. Alarmed, the woman ended the date early, her instincts likely saving her life.

Covering His Tracks

Kempson’s efforts to erase his crime were extensive. He returned to his apartment with carpet cleaners, attempting to remove any trace of Grace’s presence. He loaded the suitcase containing Grace’s body onto a trolley, struggling with its weight, and carried it to the rental car. He made several trips, disposing of evidence in trash cans around the city.

The next morning, he bought a shovel and took clothing to the dry cleaners to destroy more evidence. He paid for a deep clean of the rental car, focusing on the rear where he had stashed the suitcase. Throughout these actions, CCTV cameras recorded his every move.

Meanwhile, Grace’s family and friends grew frantic. She hadn’t posted on social media or responded to calls. Her family reported her missing to Auckland police on December 5th. Her father, David Millane, flew to New Zealand, making a heartfelt public appeal for information about his daughter’s whereabouts.

The Investigation

With Grace missing, Auckland police launched a full-scale investigation. They traced her last known movements, reviewing hours of surveillance footage. They discovered she had been on a date with a mystery man—Jesse Kempson. The footage showed Grace and Kempson together, heading to his hotel room.

On December 5th, police arrived at the CityLife Hotel, nearly missing Kempson as he tried to casually walk away. But the officers spotted him and quickly apprehended him before he could escape.

In the interrogation room, Kempson tried to lie his way out. He recounted meeting Grace, going to several bars, and returning to his hotel. He claimed Grace was the one pushing for intimacy, and that he was worried she might be a “catfish.” His story was full of contradictions and evasions.

As the interview progressed, detectives confronted Kempson with evidence from surveillance cameras and witness testimony. He grew increasingly nervous, unable to keep his story straight. He asked if he was being arrested for something he “didn’t do,” but police were convinced he was responsible for Grace’s disappearance.

The Evidence

The case against Kempson was overwhelming. Surveillance footage tracked his movements before and after the murder. He had purchased a suitcase and cleaning products using Grace’s credit card. He had paid for an extra night at the hotel to give himself time to clean up. Forensic analysis found traces of Grace’s blood in the apartment and on the carpet.

Cell phone data placed Grace and Kempson together at the hotel. Witness testimony confirmed their interactions. Kempson’s Google searches revealed he had looked up how to hide a body. He had taken photos of Grace’s body before and after packing her into the suitcase.

On December 9th, police found Grace’s body in the Waitakere Ranges outside Auckland. She had been strangled, with bruises on her arms and chest consistent with being pinned down.

The Interrogation

In his second interview on December 7th, Kempson finally confessed, but his story was twisted. He claimed that Grace had asked for “bondage,” referencing the film “Fifty Shades of Grey.” He insisted her death was an accident during consensual sex, and that he panicked afterward, not knowing what to do.

“I was in shock,” Kempson said. “I didn’t know what to do… I thought she had gone.”

He described buying the suitcase, cleaning products, and disposing of evidence. He admitted to burying Grace’s body in the bush and throwing away her clothing in city trash cans. He detailed cleaning the rental car and trying to erase any trace of the crime.

But when asked directly, Kempson denied killing Grace, maintaining that her death was not intentional.

The “Fifty Shades of Grey” Defense

Kempson’s legal team introduced one of the most controversial defenses in modern criminal history. Dubbed the “Fifty Shades of Grey” defense by the media, it argued that Grace had consented to rough sex and that her death was a tragic accident. The defense claimed that in cases where someone consents to being harmed during intimacy, the person responsible should not face murder charges if there was no intent to kill.

This defense has long been viewed as a scapegoat—a way for lawyers to seek a lighter manslaughter sentence instead of murder. But in New Zealand law, there is no distinction between first- and second-degree murder; all murder charges carry a life sentence.

The Trial

The trial was a media sensation. Prosecutors presented a mountain of evidence: surveillance footage, forensic analysis, cell phone data, witness testimony, and Kempson’s own Google searches. They showed how Kempson had methodically planned and covered up his crime, using Grace’s credit card to buy the tools he needed and paying for extra time at the hotel.

Kempson’s defense maintained his innocence, claiming Grace’s death was an accident. But the evidence of premeditation and cover-up was overwhelming. The jury saw through his lies and manipulations.

On February 21st, 2020, Jesse Kempson was found guilty of Grace Millane’s murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.

Aftermath

The horror didn’t end with Grace’s murder. After the trial, two more women came forward, claiming Kempson had assaulted them after meeting him on Tinder. He was convicted on those charges as well, adding another 11 years to his life sentence.

Grace’s death sent shockwaves through New Zealand and the world. It was a stark reminder of the dangers lurking behind online dating, and the importance of vigilance—even in seemingly safe environments.

For Grace’s family, the pain was unimaginable. Her father’s public appeals for help, the desperate search, and the devastating truth left scars that will never heal. Grace was a vibrant, adventurous young woman, killed by a man she trusted.

Lessons Learned

The story of Grace Millane’s murder is a cautionary tale for the digital age. It highlights the risks of online dating, the ease with which predators can hide in plain sight, and the importance of trusting one’s instincts. It also underscores the dedication of law enforcement, who pieced together a complex puzzle to bring a killer to justice.

But above all, it is a story of loss—a young life cut short, a family left to grieve, and a community forever changed.

Epilogue

Grace Millane’s legacy endures as a warning and a call for change. Her story has inspired greater awareness of the dangers of online dating, and renewed efforts to protect vulnerable individuals from harm. The man who killed her will spend the rest of his life behind bars, but the impact of his crime will echo for years to come.

In the end, Grace’s tragic fate reminds us all to be vigilant, to trust our instincts, and to remember that sometimes, the greatest danger comes from those who seem most ordinary.